Designed by Edward Durrell Stone, the massive Kennedy Center stands on a 17-acre tract overlooking the Potomac River adjacent to the Watergate complex. It was created by congress in 1958 as the National Cultural Center and was designated in 1964 as a memorial to President Kennedy.
Under its roof are five theaters: the Eisenhower Theater (primarily legitimate stage); the Opera House (opera, musical comedy, ballet, modern dance); the Concert Hall (symphony concerts, recitals); the Terrace Theater (experimental drama, poetry, chamber music, children's presentations); and the American Film Institute Theater. The red-carpeted Grand Foyer is lit by 18 crystal chandeliers and dominated by a giant sculptured head in bronze of President John F. Kennedy. Three dining facilities serve lunch and dinner. Free guided tours are given daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and there is pay parking underneath the building.
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